Facebook page created to foster discussion, debate

Published: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 10:08 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | With the 2013 slate of municipal election candidates set, experts and amateurs alike are contributing to the conversation that will help decide the vote.

Elizabeth Stanard, a resident who has established an online community to discuss the candidates, said she hopes the Facebook group “Tuscaloosa Municipal Elections: 2013” can serve as an open forum for voters and candidates.

And while the conversations over the contested City Council and Board of Education races could get exciting on that page, that likely won’t be the trend citywide.

Bill Stewart, a University of Alabama professor emeritus of political science who has followed Tuscaloosa politics for more than five decades, said the City Council election doesn’t stand to be too exciting as a whole.

But that, he said, is normal for this city.

“I’ve been in Tuscaloosa more than 50 years and, in my experience, Tuscaloosa municipal politics has been quiet and not as controversial as it’s been in other cities,” Stewart said.

He referenced the electorate in his hometown of Hartselle, which elected no incumbents in 2004 but in 2008 re-elected its mayor for the first time in years.

And then there’s Northport voters, who in 2004 ousted every council member but retained Mayor Harvey Fretwell only to vote him out four years later by giving him only 26 percent of the vote.

In stark contrast, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox is running unopposed for the second consecutive election.

“Here in Tuscaloosa, once we get (a mayor) ... we tend to let them stay in office as long as they want to continue to run,” Stewart said.

The unopposed races, Stewart said, say as much about the opinions of voters as do the contested races.

Unusual, though, is that political newcomer and University of Alabama student Matt Calderone is facing no opposition for the District 4 seat.

No one qualified to challenge Calderone, 22, who served a year as president of UA’s Student Government Association. He is running for the seat being vacated by outgoing Councilman Lee Garrison, who also was 22 and a UA student when he was first elected to the City Council in 1997.

“I think he’s a fine young man, but it is unusual for someone with no political experience to walk into a City Council seat without any opposition of any kind,” Stewart said.

He said he is not surprised, however, that Tyner is facing no opposition.

Despite Tyner’s arrest in December on drug charges, his constituency never wavered.

And then, when cancer struck the three-term councilman, the residential support grew even stronger.

Tyner, now in remission and with a clean legal record after completing a court-

ordered program, returned to the City Council chambers two weeks ago for the first time since undergoing treatment in Arkansas for almost two months.

No one qualified to challenge him for the seat he has held since 1997.

“I don’t know who, in particular, might have opposed him after his arrest,” Stewart said, “but I know some were not satisfied with him. ...

“I do think his constituents know he’s worked extremely hard for his district, and I hope that his health will allow him to continue to serve for a long time to come.”

But District 1 and District 7 — two of the three traditionally black seats on the four-member council — are contested, with three challengers seeking to unseat Councilman Bobby Howard and two others competing for the seat now held by Councilman William Tinker.

The only other contested council race is District 6, where Councilman Bob Lundell will square off against two challengers.

“I think it’s interesting that our African-American residents have more interest in politics than our white residents, as evidenced in this current municipal election,” Stewart said. “There’s spirited competition among the African-American community to get elected, and I think that’s a very positive sign, as far as Tuscaloosa is concerned.”

Stanard, a Northport resident who grew up in Tuscaloosa and has parents who still reside here, said she formed the Facebook page earlier this month because she believes civic involvement is important in choosing elected representatives.

“Often, we take our right to vote and freedom of speech for granted,” said Stanard, 39. “It’s our duty as citizens to stay informed about our candidates because they represent us and our interest.”

She said her interest in local politics began as a child as she watched her father, who ran a marketing firm, represent and promote the candidates who hired him.

Now, she’s volunteering her time to give a venue to all candidates to promote themselves while interacting with the residents who will be voting for them.

Activity on the Facebook page has picked up since qualifying for the local offices ended Tuesday afternoon, and Stanard said she hopes it will continue until the races are settled.

“I think that awareness, discourse and debate help inform our decisions and who we vote for,” she said, “and I’m hopeful that the page will increase interest in local politics and spread information that we otherwise may not have as much access to.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | With the 2013 slate of municipal election candidates set, experts and amateurs alike are contributing to the conversation that will help decide the vote.</p><p>Elizabeth Stanard, a resident who has established an online community to discuss the candidates, said she hopes the Facebook group “Tuscaloosa Municipal Elections: 2013” can serve as an open forum for voters and candidates.</p><p>And while the conversations over the contested City Council and Board of Education races could get exciting on that page, that likely won't be the trend citywide.</p><p>Bill Stewart, a University of Alabama professor emeritus of political science who has followed Tuscaloosa politics for more than five decades, said the City Council election doesn't stand to be too exciting as a whole.</p><p>But that, he said, is normal for this city.</p><p>“I've been in Tuscaloosa more than 50 years and, in my experience, Tuscaloosa municipal politics has been quiet and not as controversial as it's been in other cities,” Stewart said.</p><p>He referenced the electorate in his hometown of Hartselle, which elected no incumbents in 2004 but in 2008 re-elected its mayor for the first time in years.</p><p>And then there's Northport voters, who in 2004 ousted every council member but retained Mayor Harvey Fretwell only to vote him out four years later by giving him only 26 percent of the vote.</p><p>In stark contrast, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox is running unopposed for the second consecutive election.</p><p>“Here in Tuscaloosa, once we get (a mayor) ... we tend to let them stay in office as long as they want to continue to run,” Stewart said.</p><p>The unopposed races, Stewart said, say as much about the opinions of voters as do the contested races.</p><p>Like Maddox, incumbents Harrison Taylor, Kip Tyner and Cynthia Almond face no opposition in their re-election bids.</p><p>Unusual, though, is that political newcomer and University of Alabama student Matt Calderone is facing no opposition for the District 4 seat.</p><p>No one qualified to challenge Calderone, 22, who served a year as president of UA's Student Government Association. He is running for the seat being vacated by outgoing Councilman Lee Garrison, who also was 22 and a UA student when he was first elected to the City Council in 1997.</p><p>“I think he's a fine young man, but it is unusual for someone with no political experience to walk into a City Council seat without any opposition of any kind,” Stewart said.</p><p>He said he is not surprised, however, that Tyner is facing no opposition.</p><p>Despite Tyner's arrest in December on drug charges, his constituency never wavered.</p><p>And then, when cancer struck the three-term councilman, the residential support grew even stronger.</p><p>Tyner, now in remission and with a clean legal record after completing a court-</p><p>ordered program, returned to the City Council chambers two weeks ago for the first time since undergoing treatment in Arkansas for almost two months.</p><p>No one qualified to challenge him for the seat he has held since 1997.</p><p>“I don't know who, in particular, might have opposed him after his arrest,” Stewart said, “but I know some were not satisfied with him. ...</p><p>“I do think his constituents know he's worked extremely hard for his district, and I hope that his health will allow him to continue to serve for a long time to come.”</p><p>But District 1 and District 7 — two of the three traditionally black seats on the four-member council — are contested, with three challengers seeking to unseat Councilman Bobby Howard and two others competing for the seat now held by Councilman William Tinker.</p><p>The only other contested council race is District 6, where Councilman Bob Lundell will square off against two challengers.</p><p>“I think it's interesting that our African-American residents have more interest in politics than our white residents, as evidenced in this current municipal election,” Stewart said. “There's spirited competition among the African-American community to get elected, and I think that's a very positive sign, as far as Tuscaloosa is concerned.”</p><p>Stanard, a Northport resident who grew up in Tuscaloosa and has parents who still reside here, said she formed the Facebook page earlier this month because she believes civic involvement is important in choosing elected representatives.</p><p>“Often, we take our right to vote and freedom of speech for granted,” said Stanard, 39. “It's our duty as citizens to stay informed about our candidates because they represent us and our interest.”</p><p>She said her interest in local politics began as a child as she watched her father, who ran a marketing firm, represent and promote the candidates who hired him.</p><p>Now, she's volunteering her time to give a venue to all candidates to promote themselves while interacting with the residents who will be voting for them.</p><p>Activity on the Facebook page has picked up since qualifying for the local offices ended Tuesday afternoon, and Stanard said she hopes it will continue until the races are settled.</p><p>“I think that awareness, discourse and debate help inform our decisions and who we vote for,” she said, “and I'm hopeful that the page will increase interest in local politics and spread information that we otherwise may not have as much access to.</p><p>“Its goal is to be a clearinghouse of information.”</p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>